Magical Express

[erinshaneb]

We used the magical express the last time we went in 05' and I wasn't that happy with it..It took 3 hours for our luggage to appear and nobody made us aware of that before hand...I think it was the first year they had, but not sure..anyone here use it ? Is it the same ? I will be traveling with a 3 year old so any help with luggage would be great, but if it will take additional time I need to be aware up front..thanks

 

[CleveRocks]

We used the magical express the last time we went in 05' and I wasn't that happy with it..It took 3 hours for our luggage to appear and nobody made us aware of that before hand...I think it was the first year they had, but not sure..anyone here use it ? Is it the same ? I will be traveling with a 3 year old so any help with luggage would be great, but if it will take additional time I need to be aware up front..thanks

Sorry, but I was one of the first people to use DME, back on May 8, 2005, and it stated VERY clearly in the DME booklet that we should expect our luggage about 3 hours after checking-in at the resort.

I knew to expect it, because I read the instructions.

It's exactly the same set-up now as it was then.

EDITED TO ADD: I just re-read this and it comes out sounding harsh and negative ... I truly don't mean it in that way at all! :wave:

 

[CleveRocks]

It's important to note that guests who leave the DME tags off their bags and who claim their own bags at baggage claim are very likely delaying their own arrival at their resort.

In the time it takes them to detour to baggage claim and wait for their bags and then bring their bags to the DME area, it's very likely that the first available bus to their resort already left, and they'll have to wait around for the next one. This may be a perfectly acceptable trade-off to some people, but I just wanted to make sure that they factor that delay into their decisions.

I'm sure it doesn't happen very often, but a nightmare scenario for me would be waiting around at baggage claim for an hour or two while waiting for thunderstorms to move out of the area because, as noted earlier, the rampers' union contract says they can't off-load luggage during thunderstorms. I'd be so much happier to be at Disney World without my luggage for an additional 2 hours rather than spending that 2 hours hanging around baggage claim getting frustrated. I'm sure this doesn't happen very often, but I'm so glad that it can never happen to me.

The DME tags have barcodes on them. These barcodes are scanned 5 separate times between airplane and inside of resort room. In addition, the luggage delivery trucks are tracked by GPS. In other words, Disney knows where your luggage is at all times.

 

[surfsupdon]

I love the free transportation. It's always been fast for us, but have heard oflong rides for others.

We don't use the luggage service tho. Instead we leave it under the bus and tip the driver. Most of our flights are night flights, so we'd rather have our bags as soon as we get to the room. Waiting for the bags to arrive when really wanting to go to bed stinks.

So time of dayalso should dictate if you use the luggage service or not.

 

[erinshaneb]

Sorry, but I was one of the first people to use DME, back on May 8, 2005, and it stated VERY clearly in the DME booklet that we should expect our luggage about 3 hours after checking-in at the resort.

I knew to expect it, because I read the instructions.

It's exactly the same set-up now as it was then.

EDITED TO ADD: I just re-read this and it comes out sounding harsh and negative ... I truly don't mean it in that way at all! :wave:

So you didn't mean to hurt my "wittle fweelings" ?? Nah we are good..I fully admit that I didn't read EVERYTHING that came with it the first time..so what do we learn..A. the mouse doesn't want to send me a coupon and B. I should really read everything he does send me..:shrug:

 

[TURKEY]

I'm a local so I'm not sure of the process, never used DME, but here are my thoughts.

I know if you don't tag your bags and you want DME to pick them up, then you have to give a description and claim check number.


Unless DME gets your claim check numbers (haven't seen if they do or not if bags are tagged), they have no way of knowing where your bags are and if they made it to Orlando.

DME knows where the bags are once they start scanning the yellow tags.



Lots of people will complain about the 3 hours. There are lots of reasons for this.

If you land in a thunderstorm, your bags will have a higher percentage chance of not being in your room at the 3 hour mark. Bell services at the resorts will suspend delivery as well if they have to be outside to deliver bags. I'm not saying to wait and claim your bags. I'm just saying that might be why it takes 4 hours to get to your room instead of 3.

I know in the past that bell services/DME teams at the resort wouldn't deliver partial sets of luggage, instead would wait until all bags had made it to the resort to deliver to your room.

Also, your bag may not have even made it to Orlando. Again, just curious of if DME takes/scans claim checks at the DME welcome center. I don't think you would even know this unless you call after 3 hours and bell services tells you that bags were delayed and never made it to Orlando.

 

[Phonedave]

I'm a local so I'm not sure of the process, never used DME, but here are my thoughts.

I know if you don't tag your bags and you want DME to pick them up, then you have to give a description and claim check number.


Unless DME gets your claim check numbers (haven't seen if they do or not if bags are tagged), they have no way of knowing where your bags are and if they made it to Orlando.

DME knows where the bags are once they start scanning the yellow tags.

Right.

If you put the yellow tags on your bags, and then loose your claim tickets, Disney will still find your bags and deliver them.

If you put the yellow tags on your bags and HAVE your claim tickets, then Disney knows both your DME tag number and Airline Claim Ticket number in case anything goes wonky. This helps in tracking your bag down.

If you did not put the yellow tags on your bags, but you have your claim ticket, WDW will get your bags and DME them based on the claim number and a bag description. However it may take longer.

I have no idea what happens if you do not use the yellow tags and do not have your claim tickets. My guess is DME tells you sorry, and you have to get your own bags.

DME will not deliver bags unless you are on the bus. You have to have your "bus boarding pass" scanned and then they will load your bags for resort delivery.

Remember, there was a policy change a while back. DME will no longer deliver your bags in the middle of the night if thats when they get in. I think the cut off is midnight. They will leave you a phone message and when you call in the AM they deliver them. However you can request that if they come in after midnight that they come deliver them. I guess people were gettng freaked out when DME would creep into the room at 1:00 AM while they were sleeping to drop off bags.



-dave

 

[Tom]

I used the DME luggage service once. I get anxious about not having my luggage, so the last 3 times I've taken my own.

It wasn't as bad as people make it out to be. We got off the plane and head to head toward the luggage carousels anyway, because they're near the DME depot. We got our bags, checked into DME (which takes the longest of any part of the whole process - especially if you're landing when all the cruise guests are landing too).

The DME driver stowed our bags under the bus, and got them back out for us at our resort. We checked in, moved in, and were on our merry way.

We had a FULL day planned for our arrival day, until park closing, and the last thing I wanted to have happen was to come home at Midnight from MK EMH only to find out that I didn't have any luggage. I like to thwart off those demons early. It's just my nature.

Many guests have had WONDERFUL experiences. I just can't make myself take the risk. Too many times where things have gone wrong in my travels - I'm damaged

 

[KC82271]

We have used DME each and every time since it's inception. We are the type that get there early, have the luggage delivered whenever, and we get back to the rooms at night, and unpack then. Never a problem. This past November, we didn't arrive until 8pm at night. We choose to not have them deliver the luggage until the next morning. We packed what we needed in the carryon (we have a 3 year old daughter) and when I rolled over at 6am, I called for the luggage and it was delivered within an hour. It took that long for the rest of the group to move anyway!